FIDE World Chess Championship 2018
← Previous | Timeline | Next →
The FIDE World Chess Championship 2018 was held in London, England, featuring reigning World Champion Magnus Carlsen (Norway) and challenger Fabiano Caruana (USA), the winner of the 2018 Candidates Tournament. For the first time in history, all 12 classical games ended in draws, prompting a rapid tiebreak in which Carlsen scored a flawless 3–0 victory, securing his fourth world title and reaffirming his supremacy in faster formats.
📷 Pablo Martínez Rodríguez: (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Wikimedia Commons
Winner: Magnus Carlsen
Born: 1990, Tonsberg, Norway
Magnus Carlsen entered the match as the reigning champion and the undisputed leader of the chess world. Known for his elite endgame technique, unshakable composure, and adaptability across all time controls, Carlsen approached the match with strategic caution. While he drew all classical games, his confidence in rapid play led to a bold draw offer in Game 12, steering the match toward a format where he held a clear edge. His 3–0 sweep in the tiebreak was widely seen as a masterclass in psychological preparation and technical excellence. The match cemented Carlsen’s standing not only as a classical titan, but also as a multi-format legend of the game.
«I have great respect for Fabiano’s play, but I’m confident in my abilities.» – Magnus Carlsen
Opponent: Fabiano Caruana
Born: 1992, Miami, USA
Fabiano Caruana arrived as the first American challenger since Bobby Fischer, having won the 2018 Candidates Tournament with remarkable consistency. Known for his deep preparation, universal style, and precise calculation, Caruana’s games were often cited for pushing theoretical boundaries, especially in the Sveshnikov Sicilian. Despite impressive performances and equal footing throughout the classical games, his comparative weakness in rapid time controls became apparent in the tiebreak. Nevertheless, the match elevated his reputation as a top-tier grandmaster capable of matching Carlsen over the board.
«I feel like I’m at the peak of my chess career.» – Fabiano Caruana
Match Overview
🗓️ Match Dates: November 9 – November 28, 2018
📍 Location: London, United Kingdom
✅ Format: Best of 12 classical games, followed by rapid tiebreaks if necessary
⏱️ Time Control: 100 minutes for 40 moves, 50 minutes for the next 20 moves, then 15 minutes to the end with a 30-second increment from move 1
💰 Prize Fund: €1 million (Champion 55%, Runner-up 45%)
📄 Main Sponsors: PhosAgro, Kaspersky Lab, S.T. Dupont, Isklar
Historical and Cultural Context
The 2018 World Championship drew record-breaking global attention, with millions following the match through livestreams and expert commentary. That all twelve classical games ended in draws reignited debate about the format’s relevance at the top level. While many admired the players’ defensive precision and cutting-edge preparation, others questioned whether classical chess had become too balanced. Carlsen’s strategic draw offer in Game 12, followed by a flawless tiebreak performance, shifted the narrative from passivity to format mastery. For Caruana, it confirmed his place among the global elite; for Carlsen, it was a clinical title defense that underscored his cross-format supremacy.
FIDE World Chess Championship 2018 Games
Game 1
Game 2
Game 3
Game 4
Game 5
Game 6
Game 7
Game 8
Game 9
Game 10
Game 11
Game 12
Tie breaks
Game 13
Game 14
Game 15
FIDE World Chess Championship 2018
Magnus Carlsen, Norway
← Previous | Timeline | Next →
FIDE World Chess Championship 2018 Sources
Quote Sources
- FIDE: Post-Match Press Conference Transcript
- The Guardian: Carlsen retains title in tiebreak
- New York Times: Carlsen’s strategy and win
- ChessBase: Carlsen wins tie-break
General Sources
- FIDE Archives: Official event coverage
- New in Chess: Championship issue, No. 8/2018
- Lichess: Match studies and user commentary
- The Week in Chess: Game list and summaries
- Mark Weeks’ Chess Pages: Event overview
- BBC Sport: Match preview and report
- RIA Novosti (RU): Russian perspective on Carlsen’s tiebreak strategy (translated)
- Shakhmaty Rossii (RU): Russian federation commentary (translated)
- Le Monde (FR): Feature on Caruana’s rise (translated)
- FAZ (DE): Analysis of classical draws (translated)
- The Chess Drum: Match overview
Photo Credits
📷 Carlsen-Caruana, 9th game of the World Chess Championship 2018
Pablo Martínez Rodríguez: (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Wikimedia Commons
Sources, image credits, and attributions for this championship are listed on this page. For general information about the World Chess Champions timeline, visit the main page.